Ministry in Action

It is perhaps easiest to see how we do God's work, with our hands by looking at how we serve others, especially those who are in need, are outcasts, or have little voice in society.  Here is just a sampling of our various ministries reaching out to serve:

Food Basket - The congregation of St. Andrew continually collects non-perishable food items for the Parsippany Area Emergency Food Pantry.  Several thousand pounds of food items are provided to area residents in need each year by the many people here who consider hunger a top priority in our ministry efforts.  Additionally, we are able to provide gift cards to area grocery stores thanks to supplemental funding by the Morris County Chapter of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

ICHF of Morris County (Interfaith Council for Homeless Families) - St. Andrew has been a support partner of ICHF since its beginning in Morris County in 1986 as Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).  Through ICHF, St. Andrew helps to provide temporary housing, meals, job training and life skills that will help transition families in the program to permanent housing and off public assistance.  St. Andrew provides dinner, dinner hosts, and overnight hosts four times a year.

Adah Circle - The ladies of this St. Andrew ministry group are an industrious bunch, assembling and shipping several hundred emergency relief School Kits, Layette (Infant) Kits, and Health Kits to Lutheran World Relief each year.  These emergency kits are distributed around the globe to people in need due to natural disaster, war, political strife or poverty.

Quilts for LWR (Lutheran World Relief) - During 2011, crafty members of St. Andrew assembled and stitched together 23 quilts for Lutheran World Relief.  An additional 90 baby blankets were knitted for two area neo-natal intensive care units.

STARs Program - You can be a STAR (ST. Andrew Responders).  This program matches the volunteer abilities of the congregation with our members in need.  Those who are able to drive to doctor appointments, cook meals, spend a few hours or run a few errands are matched with a congregation member facing a short term crisis or until permanent assistance can be found for longer term needs.

Christmas Angels - Each year, St. Andrew "adopts" 3-5 families to help make their Christmas "wishes" come true.  Congregation members select a wish to fulfill, purchase and wrap the gift to be distributed to our special families. Additionally, all the food and fixin's for Christmas dinner, along with gift cards to local grocery stores for perishable food items, are provided.

ELCA World Hunger Appeal - St. Andrew participates on an individual level in the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.  Individuals in the congregation may earmark some of their offerings to be shared with this ELCA program.  In this way we show our congregational support to end hunger around the world.

Advocacy -  Advocacy is the process of speaking out on an issue on behalf of those in need, especially for those who have little or no voice in the governing process.  Individuals are encouraged to connect with the ELCA office of advocacy to follow issues of concern to them.  By petitioning our government officials through letter writing campaigns we are able to express our Christian beliefs in peacemaking, hospitality to strangers, care for creation, concern for those living in poverty, or struggling with hunger or disease.  Particularly near and dear to the heart of St. Andrew is the issue of hunger.  We collaborate with Bread for the World and participate in the annual Offering of Letters to help promote fair legislation concerning those who face hunger in their lives.

Special projects as needed - Sometimes special needs arise and we rise to the challenge for a special purpose.  We've held fundraisers to help with adoptions, blood drives and impromptu collections for local disasters or special situations.  If something touches the heart of one of us, it might easily touch the hearts of many and bring about a flurry of activity in our desire to respond.  If something is near to your heart, don't hesitate to bring it to our team with an idea of how we can make a difference!

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